Neurosurg Focus
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Cigarette smoking has been well established as a risk factor in vascular pathology, such as cerebral aneurysms. However, tobacco's implications for patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are controversial. The object of this study was to identify predictors of AVM obliteration and risk factors for complications. ⋯ Cerebral AVM patients with a history of smoking are significantly less likely than those without a smoking history to have complete AVM obliteration on follow-up DSA or MRI. Therefore, patients with AVMs should be strongly advised to quit smoking.
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Patients with posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are more likely to present with hemorrhage than those with supratentorial AVMs. Observed patients subject to the AVM natural history should be informed of the individualized effects of AVM characteristics on the clinical course following a new, first-time hemorrhage. The authors hypothesize that the debilitating effects of first-time bleeding from an AVM in a previously intact patient with an unruptured AVM are more pronounced when AVMs are located in the posterior fossa. ⋯ Patients with posterior fossa AVMs are more likely to have severe outcomes than those with supratentorial AVMs based on this natural history study. Age, sex, and ethnicity were not associated with an increased risk of severe outcome after AVM rupture, but posterior fossa location, associated aneurysms, and eloquent location were associated with poor post-hemorrhage mRS scores. Posterior fossa hematomas are poorly tolerated, with severe outcomes observed even with smaller hematoma volumes. These findings support an aggressive surgical posture with respect to posterior fossa AVMs, both before and after rupture.
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The appropriate dose during stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remains a matter of debate. In the present study, the authors retrospectively evaluated the association of using a prescribed dose calculated utilizing the K index with the obliteration rate of cerebral AVMs after SRS. ⋯ Gamma Knife radiosurgery for cerebral AVMs remains an effective and safe treatment modality. Smaller AVMs may receive doses less than the calculated K index dose without an apparent effect on obliteration rates.
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Spinal arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare, complex spinal vascular lesions that are challenging to manage. Recently, understanding of these lesions has increased thanks to neuroimaging technology. Published reports of surgical results and clinical outcome are limited to small series. The authors present a large contemporary series of patients with spinal AVFs and AVMs who were treated at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. ⋯ Spinal AVFs and AVMs are complex lesions that should be considered for surgical obliteration. Over the last several decades the authors have changed surgical strategies and management to achieve better clinical outcomes. Transient neurological deficit postoperatively is a risk associated with intervention; however, clinical outcomes appear to exceed the natural history based on patients' ability to recover during the follow-up period. Due to the recurrence rate associated with these lesions, long-term follow-up is required.
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The authors conducted a study to assess the safety and efficacy of microsurgical resection of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and determine predictors of complications. ⋯ Microsurgical resection of AVMs is highly efficient and can be undertaken with low rates of morbidity at high-volume neurovascular centers. Unruptured and larger AVMs were associated with higher complication rates.